Static eliminator for vehicle tanks



Dec- 8, 1925- 1 5 4,925

C. C. ANTHONY STATIC ELIMINATOR FOR VEHICLE TANKS Filed Sept. 25. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 We flab;

Dec. 8, 1925- ,56 ,925

C. c. ANTHONY STATIC ELIMINATOR FOR VEHICLE TANKS Filed Sept. 25 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ij@@ m Ill NTO MM C Dec 8 1925. 1,564,925 I c. c. ANTHONY STATIC ELIMINATOR FOR VEHICLE TANKS Filed Sept. 25, 1922 s sheets-shet 3 A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFHQE.

CHARLES C. ANTHONY, OF SAN FRANCISOO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY IlIESNl. AS-

SIGNLTENTS, TO ASSOCIATED OIL COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, OALIFORNEA, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

STATIOELIMINATOR FOR VEHICLE TANKS.

Application filed September 25, 1822. Serial No. 590,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, CHARLES C. ANTHONY. a. citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Static Eliminators for Vehicle Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of truck tanks carrying gasoline or other inflammable oil, there is sometimes a tendency to create a charge of static electricity, which may become discharged in such manner as to ignite the gasoline vapor and cause serious tires. This is true for exam ole of the fillin o eration.

The purpose of this invention is to cause grounding of the tank before the operation involving this danger is begun.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a tank truck showing an externally grounded electrical cable with a terminalapplied to the tank in such manner as to ground the same and to enable the movement of a part having to do with the operation in question;

Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale, showing a portion of the top of a truck tank containing a manhole with a manhole ring and cover therein in vertical section, and the filling cap, the interference and the ground-- ing cable and plug in elevation, portions of the cable being shown broken out and ground being represented diagrammatically, the grounding plug being shown inserted in position displacing the movable part, of the interference Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view on a larger scale;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary top plan on the same scale as Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the manhole cover and filling cap, showing the interference in normal position, preventing removal of the cap; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the grounding plug inserted.

The sheet metal tank of the tank truck is marked 1, and 2 is a bucket-box at the rear end, commonly welded to the tank to form a unit body therewith. From the bottom of the compartments of the tank pipes 3 extend rearward and terminate in faucets l at the rear end of the vehicle.

The shell of the tank is flanged up around an opening to receive a welded-in manhole ring 5. The manhole cover 6 screws into this ring and has a central screw-threaded filling opening 7, which receives a screw cap or movable closure 8. The particular pre ferred embodiment of the invention illustrated prevents the intended movement of this part 8 unless the tank is grounded.

On the underside of the filling cap, adjacent the periphery is a fixed lug 9, to co operate with an interfering lever or movable member 10 fulcrumed on a pin 11 in a bracket 12 projecting downward from the manhole cover. The i terfering lever may be of bellcrank form as shown, with an upwardly projecting, normally inclined nose 13 and an outwardly projecting tail 14, though naturally the form may be varied. A spring 15 connecting the lever and bracket holds the lever in its normal position with the nose tilted into obstructing relation to the lug 9, so that the filling cap cannot be unscrewed. The lug and lever constitute a form of interference, lock or detent, and it will be understood that such lock need not restrain the part locked against all movement, being suiiicient as n the case illustrated to lock against effective or intended movement. It will be noticed that the cap can be turned practically as much as a revolution with the lever in interfering position, but this is not enough to permit removal.

The tail 1-: is beneath a small opening 16 formed through the manhole cover in a boss 17, the socket thus provided being for the insertion of a grounding plug or terminal 18, which as seen in Figs. 2 and 6 will shift the lever 10 out of interfering position, thereby enabling the cap 8 to be unscrewed. This plug comprises a conducting rod 19 having a suitable handle 20, the rod being electrically connected to a cable 21, the re mote end of which is attached to a waterpipe or other actual ground, separate from the vehicle. Included in the cable is a two part pull-out connection 22, which prevents possible injury should the driver start away with the grounding plug still in the tank.

The plug opening 16 is normally covered by a hinged flap 23 pressed shut by a spring 24:. When the plug is in place this flap bears against the plug as shown, the spring being of sufficient force to bind the plug in its opening so that the spring 15 cannot cause the plug to back out.

It Will be understood, therefore, that the grounding cable and plug are located at the filling station and that when a tank truck is driven to the station for filling and before the cap or movable part 8 can be opened so that the filling can be commenced, the plug or terminal must be applied to the socket of the metal manhole cover or other suitable part in electrical connection with the tank, thereby insuring dissipation to ground of any static electricity that might be generated. The cover can then be removed and filling performed in the regular Way. Be fore the filled tank is driven away, the plug is Withdrawn.

hat I claim as new is:

1. A vehicle tank having a filling opening and a socket adjacent thereto, a screw cap for the filling opening, a lug on the under part of the cap and an interfering lever on an adjacent portion of the tank, in combination With a grounding cable terminating in a plug adapted to be inserted in said socket in electrical contact with the tank to act upon the interfering lever so as to cause its displacement from the interfering position.

2. A vehicle tank having a filling cap, a socket for reception of a grounding plug, a lug on the cap and an interfering lever on an adjacent portion of the tank, the lever being accessible to such grounding plug through the socket opening for the purpose of freeing the filling cap.

CHARLES C. ANTHONY. 

